June 30, 2012

Broken Bow's Ben Nelson fields a ball at third base and throws to first for the out. Broken Bow went on to win 6-2 in 8 innings.

By

David Merrill, Chief Sports Editor

Trailing 2-0 for most of the game, Nebraska State Bank Baseball refused to quit and rallied to take the game into extra innings where they would eventually pull away from Kearney and win 6-2.

An RBI-single by Justin McCullough brought the game even at 2-2 in the top of the 7th inning. Kearney Little Ceasers stranded a runner in the bottom of the seventh, opening for Broken Bow to blow the game wide open in the top of the 8th.

This is when right fielder Jake McCormick stepped up and delivered a two-RBI single that put Broken Bow up 4-2 and gave them the lead for good.

Key hits for both McCullough and McCormick have been a theme for Nebraska State Bank as of late.

"Those two guys have been having big hits the past couple weeks for us," coach Jerry Pomplun said. "They are taking their turn and hopefully somebody takes their turn next week or the week after. Guys need to pick each other up."

The game made a pivotal turn in the top of the seventh inning with McCullough's RBI single. This was sweet vindication for McCullough, who was having one of his rougher games of the season prior to that at-bat.

"It's a god feeling," McCullough said. "You never want to be the third out or be the person that costs a run or anything, so I was glad that I came through and scored a run for us."

Baseball, as the game proved Friday night, has a way of paying you back if you keep working at it.
Not giving up has been even more important for Broken Bow this season in many ways. The Spirit softball team rallied in their most recent victory.

On that warm, muggy night, Broken Bow's baseball team continued to show that it is a town full of fighters, especially when their backs are against the wall.

"We might have gotten a little down at the beginning, but we kept battling and once we got the momentum, we just kept going," McCormick said.

Broken Bow has their next round robin game in the tournament against Doniphan/Trumbul Saturday June 30 at 5:30.